Safety lock for outboard motors



Nov; 29, 1966 e. w. VAUGHN ETAL 3,287,943

SAFETY LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Nov. 25, 1964 United States Patent3,287,943 SAFETY LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS George W. Vaughn and Felix F.Roitz, both of 2038 Oakland Ava, Pueblo, Colo. Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser.No. 413,813 3 Claims. (Cl. 7058) 'Ilhe present invention relates to animproved lock for a pair of clamping members such as those applied tomount out-board motors, and more particularly the invention relates toan improved device ifOI locking the clamping screws of outboard motorsso as to assure the prevention of unauthorized use and removal of themotor from its given clamped position.

While the invention is particularly adaptable for outboard motors, it isof course conceivable that the locking means of the invention may wellbe utilized to other structures that have clamps provided with a pair ofspaced clamping screws or other rotatable elements that are similarlyused.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means universallyadapted for locking outboard motors and preventing unauthorized use orremoval of the clamp means that are used to mount the outboard motor ona boat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple constructionof parts comprising a device that is positively secure in attaining theperformance of locking the outboard motor and the attending clamps andpreventing unauthorized manipulation and removal thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means foroutboard motor clamps which not only prevents unauthorized removal of amotor from a boat, but

also prevents the clamping screws from unknowingly or,

accidentally becoming loosened with possible loss of the motor, or otherconsequential damage.

A further object of the invention provides for an outboard lock designedso that it will not interfere with the operation of the motor and theboat to which the motor is attached.

Another object and feature of the invention is that it provides for anoutboard motor lock that is adjustable and consequently universallyadapted for use in connection with motors and motor mountings of varyingshapes and sizes.

An advantage of the invention is that it provides for an outboard motorlock that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is composedsimply, essentially a single part, and is easy to manufacture.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention andits embodiment will more fully appear from the following description andillustrations in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view of a pair of clamps mounted on atransom or stem board of a boat, and embodying the concepts of apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is substantially a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 22of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a generally back perspective view of the lock or device ofthe invention standing disassembled from the clamp and look to which itis capable of being applied.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a transom or stem board ofa boat (not shown), a pair of clamps 12, 12 having a pivoted handle 14,14 on a flat portion of the head of each clamp 12, 12, and clampengaging means 16, 16 at the other ends thereof.

From the clamps 12, 12, there is mounted supporting structure 20, 20 forsupporting the motor which is to drive the boat.

The free ends of the handles 14, 14 contain a hole 3,287,943 PatentedNov. 29, 1966 or aperture 22, 22 which is sufficiently large to receivea shank 26, or other locking member of a lock 28.

The shanks are threadedly constructed so that they engage threadedportions along the interior hole that extends through the support means20, 20. The threaded portion of the support means is shown as 30.

The lock comprises a hollow, elongated, substantially square, tubularmember 34 having its hollow portion at least extending from each endsufliciently to receive the pivoted handles within each of therespective ends, the recesses or hollow portions thereof beingidentified as 36,38. 7

As is further shown in FIGURE 3, there is an elongated slot 40sufliciently long in length and of a cross-section to receive at leastthe width of the screw clamp 12, so that the end of the tubular member34 having the hollow 36 may be inserted over the left handle 14, and thetubular member is moved leftwar-dly until the screw clamp 12 approachesor is proximate to the end of the elongated slot 40. At this point, theother end of the tubular member 34 'having an elongated slot 42 isapplied so that the hollow 38 receives the right handle 14, and thetubular member 34 is moved a short distance to the right so that theright screw shank 12 is received within the slot 42.

On the top and bottom surfaces of the tubular member 34 there areprovided apertures or holes 46, 46, so that a lock shank 26 may passthrough the tubular member and through the hole 22. while they areooaxially aligned, and the lock may then be fastened or clamped into itslocked position.

Thus it is seen that the device of the invention removes the handlesfrom being manually operable or available for tampering, as well aspreventing the handles from being loosened, accidentally or by vibrationcaused by operation of the motor, so that the invention provides a lockfor a pair of spaced-apart clamping members, and prevents the clampingmembers from being rotated which would loosen the screw clamps 12, 12.

It is within the scope of the invention to provide holes that coalesceor are coaxial with the hole 22 of the right handle 14 for providing anauxiliary or additional locking feature.

It is understood that the specific apparatus herein illustrated anddescribed is intended to be representative only, as many changes may bemade therein without departing from the clear teachings of theinvention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claimsin determining the full scope :of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock for a pair of spaced-apart clamping members for preventingsaid members against unauthorized rotation or use of the clampingmembers, the clamping members having threaded shanks and a pivotedhandle on each of the heads of the threaded shanks, said lock comprisinga hollow, elongated square-shaped tubular member having a hollow portionextending at least from each end thereof to receive, respectively, apivoted handle of said threaded shanks within each end thereof, anelongated slot of a cross-section to receive at least the width of theshank of said clamping members and extending from each end of saidtubular member along the rear side thereof, said slots extendingsufliciently to enable the tubular member to interfit between saidclamping members when positioned in spaced-apart relation while thepivoted handles are positioned within the adjacent hollow portions ofthe tubular members, and an aperture extending through the upper andlower surfaces of said tubular member and through the free end of one ofthe handles in substantially coaxial alignment with each other andadapted for receiving the shank of a locking means.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the shank of a lockingmeans is extended through the apertures while in coaxial alignment witheach other.

3. A lock for a pair of spacedapart clamping members for preventing saidmembers against unauthorized use, said clamping members comprisingthreaded shanks and having a pivoted handle dis-posed on the head ofsaid threaded shank, said lock comprising a hollow, elongated, tubularmember having the hollow portion extending from each end to receive saidpivoted handle within each end thereof, an elongated slot extending fromeach end of the tubular member along a rear portion thereof forreceiving at least the Width of the threaded shank, said slots extendingsufliciently in length to enable the tubular member to interfit betweensaid threaded shanks when positioned in spaced-apart relation while thepivoted handles are positioned within the adjacent hollow portions ofthe tubular members,

and an aperture extending through the free end of one of the handles andthe upper and lower surfaces of said tubular member in coaxial alignmentwith each other for receiving a lock shank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BOBBY R. GAY,Primary Examiner.

1. A LOCK FOR A PAIR OF SPACED-APART CLAMPING MEMBERS FOR PREVENTINGSAID MEMBERS AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED ROTATION OR USE OF THE CLAMPINGMEMBERS, THE CLAMPING MEMBERS HAVING THREADED SHANKS AND A PIVOTEDHANDLE ON EACH OF THE HEADS OF THE THREADED SHANKS, SAID LOCK COMPRISINGA HOLLOW, ELONGATED SQUARE-SHAPED TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A HOLLOW PORTIONEXTENDING AT LEAST FROM EACH END THEREOF TO RECEIVE, RESPECTIVELY, APIVOTED HANDLE OF SAID THREADED SHANKS WITHIN EACH END THEREOF, ANELONGATED SLOT OF A CROSS-SECTION TO RECEIVE AT LEAST THE WIDTH OF THESHANK OF SAID CLAMPING MEMBERS AND EXTENDING FROM EACH END OF SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER ALONG THE REAR SIDE THEREOF, SAID SLOTS EXTENDINGSUFFICIENTLY TO ENABLE THE TUBULAR MEMBER TO INTERFIT BETWEEN SAIDCLAMPING MEMBERS WHEN POSITIONED IN SPACED-APART RELATION WHILE THEPIVOTED HANDLES ARE POSITIONED WITHIN THE ADJACENT HOLLOW PORTIONS OFTHE TUBULAR MEMBERS, AND AN APERTURE EXTENDING THROUGH THE UPPER ANDLOWER SURFACES OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND THROUGH THE FREE END OF ONE OFTHE HANDLES IN SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER ANDADAPTED FOR RECEIVING THE SHANK OF A LOCKING MEANS.